Mum’s the word on criminal charges filed against ex President

Santo Domingo.- Former president Leonel Fernandez’s attorneys on Thursday said the National District Office of the Prosecutor has not admitted any complaint against him, much less against his think tank, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (Funglode).

The lawyers referred to the charges of malfeasance, perjury and money laundering filed January 24 by minority party Al-País president Guillermo Moreno against Fernandez and Funglode.

The political leader said the former chief executive used Funglode as a mechanism to raise money, which his view, among other things, violate criminal statutes and the Constitution.

Moreno’s complaint charges Fernandez, who heads Funglode, obtained monies from many companies, which then became the think tank’s assets, for which the former president could dispose of them without government control.

National District prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso yesterday said Moreno’s complaint against Fernandez will be treated in the same way as the other cases submitted daily, but neither confirmed nor denied media reports that the former president had been subpoenaed.

The defense

Former Justice minister Radhamés Jimenez and former Presidency Legal adviser Abel Rodriguez del Orbe, among others, comprise Fernandez’s defense team.